Daughter of shooting victim wants funds disbursed

Updated 10:53 pm, Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Photo: Eliza Hallabeck, Associated Press

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

This July 2010 file photo provided by the Newtown Bee shows Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., who was killed in the shooting rampage there on Dec. 14, 2012. Hochsprung and five other teachers and administrators will be posthumously awarded the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal at a White House ceremony on Feb. 15, 2013.

This July 2010 file photo provided by the Newtown Bee shows Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., who was killed in the shooting rampage there on Dec. 14, 2012.

NEWTOWN -- The daughter of the principal killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School has taken to social media to vent her frustration and concerns over how money is being distributed -- or not -- by the United Way of Western Connecticut.

In the days after the Dec. 14 shootings at the elementary school, the United Way established the Sandy Hook School Support Fund for the millions of dollars being donated to the community from around the world. The fund now stands at about $10 million.

Cristina Lafferty-Hassinger, the daughter of slain principal Dawn Hochsprung, posted messages on Facebook and Twitter saying she was upset that money has yet to be distributed from the fund.

She also expressed outrage that those affected the most by the shooting were being asked for "proof of hardship" to receive money from another fund set up to address immediate needs.

"We've been victimized enough," Lafferty-Hassinger said in a Facebook posting. "We shouldn't have to fight for what's rightfully ours, but we won't be taken advantage of in our darkest hour."

Company misuses information for 50 million Facebook usersFox 26 Houston

Fox 26 News Brief for March 19, 2018Fox 26 Houston

Take it to Akin helps viewer solve shower issueFox 26 Houston

Male birth control pill shows promise in studyFox 26 Houston

Family pleas for help finding man's killer 5 years laterFox 26 Houston

Trial begins in murder-for-hire caseFox 26 Houston

5 p.m. Mar. 19 FOXRAD ForecastFox 26 Houston

HPD investigators and family make plea for informationHouston Police Department

Former DOJ Official: Explosions May Be LinkedAssociated Press

John McClain on Texans' Tyrann MathieuJohn McClain, Houston Chronicle

Fear Spikes in Austin After 4th BlastAssociated Press

Church gives parishioners $125K to empower them to do good deedsFox 26 Houston

Lafferty-Hassinger, who declined further comment when reached by The News-Times, also stated in her posting that "we've all been walking a fine line between not wanting to profit from the death of our loved ones, and not wanting someone else to profit from our source of grief."

Late last month, family members of those murdered at the school were invited to a meeting to meet the new board of directors of the foundation.

"We wanted to bring the families in early in the process to make sure their voices are heard," Morgan said.

She said in the coming weeks foundation officials plan to meet with community groups affected by the tragedy to discuss how the dollars should be spent.

"We want to meet with all the groups impacted, including victim's families, families of the survivors, teacher and first responders, so that wise and thoughtful decisions about how the money should be spent," she said.

Morgan said the United Way will have no voting rights on how the money is spent.

"The foundation itself will be managed by people in the community," she said.

Morgan added that an immediate needs fund was also established in recent weeks with $250,000 in donations specifically earmarked for immediate needs of those impacted.

A letter distributed by the United Way states that anyone who may need assistance from the immediate needs fund "should be prepared to show official documentation of missed work or a decrease in wages, and copies of bills that need to be paid."

Morgan said money has already been distributed from the fund to help families pay mortgage expenses, utilities and to provide help with their grocery bills and mental health care costs.

"Because its an immediate needs fund, we have to document what the needs are," she said. "How else could we explain where that money is going? We have to verify the identity of the individual and what their need is."

Morgan said anyone who needs help from the immediate needs fund is urged to call 860-990-1984.